Venetian blind construction



Feb. 2, 1960 W. BROWN VENETIAN BLIND CONSTRUCTION Filed 001;. 30, 1958INVENTOR Mum/W BR BY i ATTORNEY5 United States Patent VENETIAN BLINDCONSTRUCTION William Brown, Livingston, NJ.

Application October 30, 1958, Serial No. 770,629

4 Claims. (Cl. 160-166) My invention relates to a Venetian-blindconstruction,

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved device of thecharacter indicated.

It is another object to provide an improved Venetian blind whereinselective vertical adjustment of the window opening may be achieved withstructure of utmost simplicity.

It is a further object to provide an improved Venetian blind wherein noelevating mechanism is required for adjustably retaining variousselected openings of the blind.

Other objects and various further features of novelty and invention willbecome apparent or will occur to those skilled in the art from a readingof the following specification in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings. In said drawings, which show, for illustrative purposes only,preferred forms of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a Venetian blindincorporating features of the invention and shown mounted in a windowframe;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary detail of the retaining mechanism atcorresponding ends of the slats in the blind of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken in the plane 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in perspective to illustrate a detail ofthe retaining mechanism; and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating a modification.

Briefly stated, my invention contemplates a Venetianblind constructionin which no cord or other elevating mechanism is employed for adjustablyretaining a selected opening of the blind that is, for adjustablyelevating the lower bar or slat of the blind. The slats of the blind areretained in vertically aligned relation by means of tongue projectionsformed at the end of each slat and engaged in a guide trough fixedlymounted with respect to the lateral sides of the window opening.Corresponding retaininglug means are formed at various elevations in thetroughs of the respective channel guides, and the lowest or bottom slatis provided with tongue projections of sufiicient additional length toengage and thus vertically locate upon selected of the retaining-lugmeans in the two channels. Two alternative constructions are set forth.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings, my invention is shown inapplication to a Venetian-blind construction applied to a window framehaving an upper frame member and a side frame member 11. The blindcomprises a series of vertically spaced slat members 12 flexiblyconnected and spaced by conventional means 13, and shown suspended froma relatively rigid top bar 14 having an adjustably pivoted relation witha suitable bearing or bracket 15 on the side frames 11. Detent means(not shown) may coact between the top bar 14 and a frame-based referenceto retain an adjusted angular positioning of the slats 12.

In accordance with the invention, means are provided whereby thelowermost or bottom slat 16 may be readily adjustably retained at aselected height, whereby the window opening may be adjusted, all withoutresort to the use of cords or other elevating mechanism. In the formshown, a pair of opposed, vertically oriented, elongated guide channels17-18 is fixedly mounted to the lateral sides of the window opening, as,for example, by means of mounting screws 19 to secure the channel 17.The troughs of the channels are oriented to face each other and toreceive reduced ends or tongue projections 20 of the ends of all slats12. The bottom slat 16 is provided with tongue projections 21 longerthan the projections 20 on the other slats 12, for a purpose which willbe clear.

In order to retain an adjusted height of the bottom slat 16 and thus ofthe window opening, each of the guide channels 17-18 is provided withelevation-retaining lug means, as, for example, vertically spaced lugs22-22, 23-23 struck out of the bottom of the respective channels 17-18at corresponding elevations. The overall length of the bottom slat 16,including the projection 21 thereof, should be in excess of thehorizontal clearance or spacing between lugs 22-22, 23-23 so as topermit vertical location of the bottom slat 16 as shown in Fig. 2. Onthe other hand, the other slats 12 should be of overall length,including the tongue projections 20 thereof, such as to be less thansuch horizontal clearance between corresponding lug means 22-22, 23-23.The shoulders 20 defined at the base or root of each projection 20 or 21are appropriately spaced on each slat, for horizontal location by theside walls of channels 17-18, as will be understood.

With the arrangement described, the vertical adjustment is achieved bygrasping the bottom slat 16 and raising the same past one or more of theretaining lugs 22-22, 23-23 until the adjusted height is achieved. Ifthe slats 12-16 are of the flexible variety, then the flexibility willpermit an escapement action as each succeeding lug elevation is passed.If, on the other hand, the bottom slat or bar 16 is relatively rigid,then elevation is adjusted by tilting the bottom slat 16, as at theangle suggested by phantom outline 16 in Fig. 2, to permit the lugprojection 21 to clear successive corresponding retaining lugs 22-22,23-23. Upon achievement of the desired elevation, the bottom slat needonly be restored to its horizontal position and left to hang up orretain itself on the selected corresponding lug elevation.

In the arrangement of Fig. 5, I show a refinement in which the lug meansfor at least one of the sides of the guide structure is resilientlymounted so as to permit an escapement action upon a vertical adjustmentof the bot tom slat 16 without necessitating tilt thereof, even if thebottom slat 16 is of relatively rigid construction. In the form shown inFig. 5, this resilient suspension is achieved by resiliently mountingthe entire lug and guide structure 17 with respect to the frame member11. As shown, elongated screws 25-26 anchor the guide member 17 inspaced relation to the frame member 11, and spring means 27 located byeach of said screws 25-26, resiliently holds the guide means 17 inspaced relation from the frame 11. Only when a vertical adjustment isbeing made in the bottom slat position will the escapement action oftongue projections 21 on retaining lugs (as at 22) cause resilientdepression of the guide means 17. Of course, to lower the adjustment,the bottom slat 16 need only be grasped and tilted to avoid interferencewith corresponding retaining lugs 22-23; alternatively, a manualdepression of the guide means 17 against the resilient means 27 willautomatically release the vertically retained position.

It will be seen that I have described a relatively simple structurepermitting easy selective vertical adjustment of the opening in aVenetian blind. This is achieved Without resort to the usual elevatingmechanisms, and therefore cords can be completely eliminated.Furthermore, the

fact that all slats have tongue projections guided by the guide means17-18 assures retention of the blind in proper place, regardless ofdrafts through open sash frames.

While I have described the invention in detail for th preferred formsillustrated, it will be understood that modifications may be made withinthe scope of the invention as defined in the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. In a Venetian blind, a window frame, a pair of vertically orientedelongated guide channels fixed with respect to said frame on oppositesides of the window opening with the troughs of said channels facingeach other, a series of slats and means flexibly interconnecting thesame in horizontally oriented vertically spaced relation and suspendedfrom the upper part of said frame, each of said slats being of widthexceeding the effective trough width of said channels and including anintegral guide-tongue projection at each end extendinginto and locatedby a channel trough, and elevation-retaining lug means at correspondingvertical elevations in the trough of each channel and terminating shortof the mouth of each channel, the overall length of the bottom slatincluding the tongue projections thereof exceeding the horizontalclearance between corresponding of said lugs, whereby said bottom slatmay be selectively positioned in and out of located relation withcorresponding of said lugs to retain an adjusted vertical opening ofsaid blind, the guide-tongue projections on upper slats being shorterthan for said bottom slat so that the overall horizontal extent of saidupper slats is less than the horizontal clearance between correspondingof said lugs, whereby only the bottom slat is engageable with said lugsto retain an adjusted vertical opening of said blind.

2. The blind of claim 1, wherein for each of said channels saidretaining-lug means comprises a plurality of vertically spaced lugsstruck out from the bottom of the channel.

3. In a Venetian blind, a window frame, a pair of vertically orientedelongated guide channels fixed with respect to said frame on oppositesides of the window opening with the troughs of said channels facingeach other, a series of slats and means flexibly interconnecting thesame in horizontally oriented vertically spaced relation and suspendedfrom the upper part of said frame, each of said slats being of widthexceeding the effective trough width of said channels and including aguide-tongue projection at each end extending into and located by achannel trough, and elevation-retaining lug means at correspondingvertical elevations in the trough of each channel and terminating shortof the mouth of each channel, the overall length of the bottom slatincluding the tongue projec tions thereof exceeding the horizontalclearance between I corresponding of said lugs, whereby said bottom slatmay be selectively positioned in and out of located relation withcorresponding of said lugs to retain an adjusted vertical opening ofsaid blind, said retaining-lug means for at least one of said channelsbeing laterally resiliently suspended with respect to said frame,whereby in the raising of said bottom slat one of the projecting tonguesthereof may resiliently escape past successive lugs.

4. In a Venetian blind, a window frame, a pair of vertically orientedelongated guide channels fixed with respect to said frame on oppositesides of the window opening with the troughs of said channels facingeach other, a series of slats and means flexibly interconnecting thesame in horizontally oriented vertically spaced relationiand suspendedfrom the upper part of said frame, each of said slats being of widthexceeding the elfective trough width of said channels and including aguidetongue projection at each end extending into and located by achannel trough, and elevation-retaining lug means at correspondingvertical elevations in the trough of each channel and terminating shortof the mouth of each channel, the overall length of the bottom slatincluding the" tongue projections thereof exceeding the horizontalclearance between corresponding of said lugs, whereby said bottom slatmay be selectively positioned in and out of located relation withcorresponding of said lugs to retain an adjusted vertical opening ofsaid blind, one of said channels being integrally formed with spacedretaining-lug means and being laterally resiliently suspended withrespect to said frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,805,238 Duncanson May 12, 1931 2,061,373 Brent et al Nov. 17, 19362,069,084 Brent et al. Jan. 26, 1937 2,184,098 Lemp et al. Dec. 19, 1939

